Mitchell and Rep. Joe Rice[4], D-Littleton, are among the sponsors of House Bill 1049, which would give terminated dealers the first right of refusal should the company try to open another facility in the same market or compensate them for their investments.

They were among the lawmakes at a news conference critical of the ad and how local dealerships have been handled.

Martin said the company spent $60,000 on the ad buy.

He said General Motors notified 25 of its 79 Colorado dealers that it was not renewing their franchises. Seven have filed for arbitration allowed under federal legislation filed in December.

Auto dealer Yale King[5] of King Auto Group in Longmont attended the news conference. He said Chrysler terminated his lease, which he is appealing, and that he is in “wind down” status with GM and can no longer order new vehicles.

King said after he testified in behalf of the bill before a state House committee, Chrysler awarded his Jeep franchise earlier this month to a dealer down the road.

“This is while I am in arbitration,” he said.

A Chrysler spokesman could not be reached for comment, but Mitchell was livid that the situation happened while lawmakers were trying to work with car companies on their bill.

“To me, that’s bad faith. To me, that’s just spitting on local dealers here in Colorado,” Mitchell said. “I don’t want to keep working with the manufacturers. I want to pass the bill and I hope it hits them hard.”